The £19.50 pole dancer M&S was forced to axe

A toy pole dancer has been scrapped by Marks & Spencer just a week after it went on sale, following scores of protests from angry shoppers.

Store bosses had hoped the 8in-tall blonde, sporting a red bikini and matching red lipstick, would be a big Christmas hit. But they were forced into a hasty about-turn and cleared the £19.50 toy off their shelves after they were inundated with complaints that it was offensive.



The "USB pole dancer" is designed to be plugged into any personal computer and comes complete with her own silver pole to dance around, as well as multi-coloured lights and disco music to "recreate an authentic nightclub atmosphere".

Once she is switched on she goes through a gyrating routine with the help of a pre-installed backing track.

An M&S spokeswoman said last night: "The crux of the complaints was really that some people were offended by the product. It was marketed at adults and was clearly marked 'Not suitable for children'. It was originally intended as a fun Christmas gift and it was never our intention to cause offence but obviously we take every complaint seriously."